Amazing Love
A Book Review by Mrs Patricia Joseph
This book by Julie Khoo, as the title exemplifies, is a portrayal of the amazing love of God on His elect. Once He has chosen you by grace, He sets His loving eyes on you. ‘Once His own, forever His own.’ He is a faithful God. We begin as unpolished, rough gems, but through all our life’s experiences, God does His slow but sure polishing work on us, moulding us to become His sparkling jewels, His beloved and His very own. Every life lesson that the author learnt was a facet smoothened and polished. Throughout her troubled childhood and the unpleasant past, God was laying the groundwork for her repentance and reception of His love. God was patiently watching and leading her with His Divine Hand every step of the way. This speaks of the magnanimity of God’s love. The personal testimony of Julie Khoo gives us hope that though the world gives up on us, God does not give up. His transforming process may not be overnight and dramatic but in His good time all will fall into place and the light at the end of the tunnel will appear.
Answers to many of the questions that trouble us can be gleaned from this book.
I Have Drifted Too Far Away from God. Will God Receive Me Back?
Our inherent sinfulness puts a rift between God and us. The Word of God makes it clear that we are all born with a depraved heart with a propensity to sin. People have tried to free themselves from the power of sin but to no avail. We can’t will it; neither can good works free us. God’s standards are perfect and even our best efforts are hopeless. It is a terrible problem, because sin brings a permanent separation from God and plunges us into spiritual darkness. The Bible says ‘All have sinned and come short of the glory of God’ (Rom 3:23). Only God through His Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, can deliver us from sin. God sees the spiritually lost as fatally wounded and helpless and as in the parable of the prodigal son, God waits longingly and lovingly at the gates of heaven for the return of His repentant child.
In Julie’s Life
Julie was a wayward child. She was carefree in her attitude and in many ways annoyed those around. Professing to be a Christian, she brought disrepute to the name of Jesus both at home and at school. On hindsight one can see the marvelous leading of the Lord through her childhood. From the dishonest ornamental fish dealer to the discrimination seen at the bird shop, it pointed her to the character of God. He is the one who can always be trusted and will always be fair and just. Even her innate love for nature and animals helped her fathom God’s amazing love for her. ‘Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows’ (Matt 10:29, 31).
Although her school teachers, relatives and friends had given up on her, God did not. God had a plan for her life. He was patiently and lovingly leading her to Him. God sees the child who has strayed from Him as wounded and lost and sends help on the way. He waits patiently at His gates for the return of His lost child. Her timely exposure to Sunday school and the teachers there had a life changing impact on her. She learnt the precious meaning of verses such as: ‘For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God’ (Rom 3:23), ‘For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast’ (Eph 2:8- 9), ‘For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord’ (Rom 6:23).
She came to accept that, by her own efforts, she was unable to attain God’s standard of perfection. We are all sinful but if we confess our sins to God and accept the living and true God as our personal Saviour, the burden of sin will ‘roll’ away. To become a child of God we need simply to accept, by faith, the gift of eternal life which is offered freely to us by Christ our Lord and Saviour.
How Will God Restore the Relationship?
The God who created us knows us through and through. He knows how stubborn and rebellious we can be. When we choose to drift away from Him and turn a deaf ear to His calling, He loosens the reins. But He knows our breaking point and at the right time He will pull in the reins. God’s timing is always perfect. With repentance and total surrender, our relationship with the one living and true God is restored.
In Julie’s Life
Her humbling moment came when she was posted to a secondary school that was not of her choice. The frustration that resulted was her breaking point. She had to turn to God although she tried manipulating God at first. Her regularity at Sunday School and the study of God’s Word put God in the right perspective. She made a roundabout turn and committed her life to God. She crowned Jesus as Lord of her life and was willing to trust God’s sovereignty and providence for her. Henceforth there was no turning back. She herself testifies that it was a momentous event in her life that brought a great sense of joy and victory. Full restoration had begun and she joined His fold as a child of God.
How Do We Know We Are Born Again?
To be born again, we must BELIEVE on Jesus Christ and accept Him as our personal Lord and Saviour. To truly believe, we need a broken and contrite heart that abhors sin. Guided by the Holy Spirit and the Word of God, we are led to repentance and place our complete faith and trust in Christ and rely upon Him as our only hope. This calls for a surrender and commitment to entrust our life into His hand and give Him total control. Mere religiosity, a form of godliness or head knowledge will not do. This is a matter of the heart and we cannot hope to deceive God by putting on an act because we stand naked before Him. Many people mistakenly think that by merely knowing the facts concerning Jesus Christ, by regular church attendance, or by being born into a Christian family or even fervently serving the Lord will automatically ensure them the gift of eternal life. No doubt, salvation is freely given, but only to those who are genuine believers. Born again Christians show evidence of a transformed life as seen in their lifestyle and conduct. ‘Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold all things are become new’ (2 Cor 5:17).
In Julie’s Life
Born into a Christian family, she professed to be a Christian but in her heart she knew she was not. She was able to fool some of the people some of the time but not all the people all the time and definitely not God! She knew she was bringing disrepute to the name of Jesus by her bad behaviour in school. Being born into a Christian home is also no guarantee of salvation. She had to invite Jesus personally into her life. She had to repent of her ways and commit her all to the Lord. When she heeded the Saviour’s call and made that commitment, she experienced a transformation in her life, by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.
By the grace and transforming power of God, changes were seen, such as:
Her Growing Reverence for God and His Word
A transformed life was evident. Her love for God grew from strength to strength. As she drew near to God, God drew near to her. She sought permanent spiritual treasures rather than temporary earthly pleasures. Her high regard for the Word of God led her to examine the moral standards by which she would live. Even telling white lies became abhorrent to her. She realised she was accountable to God alone for all her actions. She dedicated her life to God, keeping faithful to His commandments. She was confident that God will give her the wisdom to do what is right when faced with temptations. She started reading Christian literature, enjoyed attending Christian meetings, youth camps and fellowship groups to keep close to God and strengthen her faith. God also put a song in her heart. The words of praise that flowed out of her, in her many poems and hymns, testify to the active presence of God in her life.
Her Burning Desire and Burden for Lost Souls
Her relationship with people around her improved and she took every opportunity to tell others of God’s love. She started Bible study groups in school to reach out to others as well as to grow spiritually. God providentially provided the venue and the people. Lives that were touched and blessed were a great encouragement to her, knowing that salvation is of the Lord. She even testified that if she were given only twenty- four hours to live, she would spend the day telling others of the love of God.
An Improved and Active Prayer Life
In times of anxiety, suffering or trouble, her first avenue for recourse was to run to her Saviour. Her burden for spiritually lost friends and relatives made her a fervent prayer warrior. She humbly acknowledged that, as mere mortals, we cannot understand or control what happens around us. Prayer is our way of acknowledging that we need God. The ‘guardian angel’ that appeared from nowhere to lead her and her young wards when they were desperately lost, was an answer to her prayers.
Her Change for the Better in Her Behaviour at Home
The very people who ridiculed her and called her names, noticed a dramatic change for the better. She reflected the love of God to her relatives and friends, and God used her to testify to her maternal grandmother and neighbours.
Her Attitude to Her Studies Improved
She began to take a serious interest in her studies and was motivated to do her best for God. She was given leadership roles in school and even won academic awards. She herself was amazed by the change and clearly attributed this to God’s help. With God all things are possible.
What Is God’s Sovereignty and Providential Care?
God’s sovereignty refers to His absolute authority and power over His creation. God is omnipotent, omniscient and omnipresent. He can do anything He desires to do.
When we see the birds of the air and the flowers of the field, general revelation convinces us of the existence of God and we hold Him in awe. In the life of a believer, everything that happens, whether painful or joyful, is never by accident or chance but by direct intervention and appointment of God. All the events in our life are so lovingly and painstakingly mapped out by God. God has an individualised plan for each one of His children so that He might fulfil His special plan and purpose in us.
In Julie’s Life
God does not always reveal His plan in everything that takes place in our life. We trust Him to always do what is best for us. But as we read about the many events in Julie’s life, we are privileged to see the Divine Hand at work. When we trace her life from childhood to adulthood, we see what a special child she was and God’s marvelous leading. These verses, among others, kept her looking up to the Author and Finisher of her faith. ‘But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint’ (Isa 40:31), ‘And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose’ (Rom 8:28).
Further, by penning her testimony, many more lives have been blessed, near and far. [Get your free copy of Amazing Love: A Personal Testimony by Julie Khoo at the book table. First come, first served.]
